cairns rainforest tours: tropics explorer
Visit the rainforest with Tropics Explorer and experience the most fun and exciting rainforest tour in Cairns! Tropics Explorer offers day trips to Cape Tribulation, The Atherton Tablelands and overnight trips to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation. The rainforest around Cairns receives thousands of visitors each year that come to marvel at the unique display of natural phenomenon, and the outstanding representation of earth’s history.
During your tour with Tropic’s Explorer join other like-minded tourists for a fun filled day full of stunning sights, wildlife encounters, rainforest education, interpretation and laughter.
Cape Tribulation Day Tour
Cape Tribulation has been made famous from being the spot where two World Heritage attractions meet: the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage-listed rainforest. Your tour will begin as your coach picks you up from your Cairns or Port Douglas accommodation. Enjoy a glorious scenic drive on the Captain Cook Highway from Cairns where you will see photo-worthy beach and Coral Sea panoramas.
Next you will arrive at the Daintree River for morning tea before boarding your wildlife cruise on the Daintree River. During your wildlife cruise be informed about the unique rainforest ecosystem and all its inhabitants including the quirky tree snake and the prehistoric salt water crocodile. Spot lazy crocs sun bathing on the riverbank or cunningly cruising through the murky waters.
After your wildlife cruise it is time for a guided rainforest walk where you will learn about unique plant species such as the Strangler Fig tree and Stinging Tree, and you will have an opportunity to spot the elusive cassowary.
Lunch is served at PK’s Jungle Village in the heart of Cape Tribulation. Enjoy a delicious tropical lunch in the midst of lively PK’s Jungle Village before heading to the Alexander Lookout to snap some photos of the Daintree River, the Daintree Estuary, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.
After the cable ferry crossing across the river it is time to visit Mossman Gorge. Mossman is a rainforest enclosed river that offers you a chance to take a dip in its fresh clean waters. Explore the tracks around the rainforest before jumping back on the bus for the final stretch of the tour, back to Cairns or Port Douglas.
Overnight Cape Tribulation tours can also be arranged at the following spots: Ferntree Rainforest Lodge, PK’s Jungle Village and Cape Trib Beach House. When you stay overnight you will be able to experience more fantastic tours while in the Daintree. Choose from a reef tour, horseback riding, jungle surfing, rainforest night walks or sea kayaking.
Atherton Tablelands Day Tour
This full day tour of the Atherton Tablelands features diverse landscapes, tropical rainforest, agriculture, crater lakes, wildlife and glorious waterfalls. Start the day at approximately 8:00am when a bus picks you up from your Cairns accommodation. You will be amazed at stunning views of the Mulgrave Valley on your ascent up to Lake Barrine.
Lake Barrine is a volcanic crater lake where you can check out Kauri Pine trees dating back to over 1100 years. The unique wildlife at Lake Barrine will delight you as you see Amethystine Pythons, Eastern Water Dragons and Saw-shelled Turtles.
After Lake Barrine it is off to Millaa Millaa Falls. This famous waterfall made its screen debut during a recent shampoo commercial, yet the spectacular beauty of the falls can only really be captured in the flesh. If you aren’t afraid of a little cold water than have a swim in the lustrous falls; you can actually swim right underneath the waterfall itself — what a perfect photograph that would make!
From Millaa Millaa Falls it is time to see the Curtain Fig Tree. This Stranger Fig has become the spectacle it is today after mercilessly strangling its host tree in a competition to reach the top of the rainforest. After the host tree died and rotted away, the Curtain Fig Tree leaned on its side and now resembles a gigantic curtain with the sun beaming through.
Next it is lunch time at Falls Tea House where you can choose from lasagna, reef fish, chicken or salad.
It is now time to descend from the Atherton Tablelands but there are more stops to go on the way back to Cairns. Stop at the Crawford’s Lookout for some fabulous photos and then to the Johnston River Crocodile Farm that hosts over 3500 crocs! This working crocodile farm is also home to other animals such as the cassowary, kangaroos and other reptiles.
After the Johnstone River Crocodile Farm head to the lovely Josephine Falls for an afternoon dip, enjoy the smoothed-down rocks that double up as rockslides and enjoy the three beautiful waterfalls.
Josephine Falls is the last stop on the tour, next it is time to head back to Cairns where you will arrive at your accommodation ready for some much needed rest.
